United Kingdom Dean Village Secret Spot, Edinburgh

When visiting Edinburgh, most photographers head straight to the iconic bridge in Dean Village to shoot the river and the well-known view from the front. But few take the time to explore the other side of the village.
From there, you’ll discover a lesser-known but equally charming angle: a cluster of old stone houses with a clear view of the clock tower rising above the rooftops.
It’s a quiet, atmospheric spot that perfectly captures the unique character of Edinburgh – ideal for moody streetscapes featuring classic Scottish architecture and the occasional passerby.

Bring a tripod to make the most of the soft light and narrow streets. A 24–70 mm lens works best here — avoid standing too close with a wide-angle lens. Instead, step back and zoom in slightly to preserve the proportions between the buildings and any people in the frame.
As always, try to keep your camera level to avoid converging verticals. If you do need to tilt the camera slightly, be sure to leave enough room around the edges to correct for distortion in post-processing.
This spot works beautifully during blue hour, when the light adds a soft, atmospheric touch to the textures of the stone façades.

While there are some parking spots around Dean Village, Edinburgh is best explored on foot. The city isn’t particularly large, and most locations — including Dean Village — are easily reachable without a car.
Even though it’s a bit outside the historic center, Dean Village is just a 20-minute walk from the Old Town, and the route itself is full of interesting photo opportunities.
So leave the car behind and enjoy discovering the city’s charm one street at a time.